It was a breath of fresh air in Paris as Valentino's designer Pierpaolo Piccioli liberated himself of constraints on race, age and weight Wednesday to produce a joyful, inclusive and long-awaited moment of couture.
Fashion prides itself on being able to predict trends and be ahead of the curve. So many industry watchers have been disappointed in recent years that European fashion houses -- some of whom have been accused of Western-centrism and even racism -- have seemed behind on issues of body positivity and diversity.
